04-03-2025
Stories of immigrants who shaped Tampa's history featured in new exhibit
The Tampa History Center debuted its "Invisible Immigrants" exhibit over the weekend — featuring hundreds of historical records from Spanish farmers and workers who emigrated to the U.S.
Why it matters: The Spanish, Cuban and Sicilian immigrants who settled in Tampa and West Tampa helped shape the city's history, culture and success — transforming a fishing village into a multicultural hub.
The Tampa Bay History Center is the first museum in the U.S. to host the exhibition, according to a press release.
Zoom in: New York University professor James D. Fernández and journalist-filmmaker Luis Argeo curated the collection, which is sourced from an archive of over 15,000 historical records.
The exhibit runs through Aug. 3 and features 300 photographs, documents and audiovisual materials, per the press release.
What they're saying:"This is a remarkable opportunity for our community to engage with a pivotal chapter of immigration history," said C.J. Roberts, president and CEO of the Tampa Bay History Center.
"As visitors come to Tampa for the exhibition, we're using this opportunity to showcase Cigar City and celebrate the many Spanish immigrants who helped build it," said Cristal Lastra, president of Centro Asturiano de Tampa.
